City says state grant will fund solar panels for Stewartville library

Stewartville — City staff reported the city has been awarded a state grant to fund solar panels for the Stewartville Public Library and explained the upfront and operational details during the Dec. meeting.

Finance officer Kelly told the council the grant covers the full purchase and installation costs for solar arrays on the new and existing library buildings; staff said the completed system is expected to produce roughly 103% of the library’s energy needs after a planned expansion. To secure the state funding, the city must provide a 10% down payment on the total purchase, which staff said will be reimbursed by the grant.

Councilmembers asked whether the project included an electric‑vehicle charging station; Kelly said adding a charging station would be a separate expense and was not included in the grant. A council member also noted that a nearby business, United Therapeutic, operates its own private solar system and that private systems typically manage exports to the grid under utility rules; staff observed utilities determine buyback or compensation rates for exported power.

Staff did not present financing or timeline details beyond the grant structure during the meeting; council approved the broader finance items on the agenda that included authorization for related expenditures. Staff indicated more documentation will be available in the project packet and that the grant requires typical state procurement and reimbursement steps.

Next steps: staff will finalize procurement and reimbursement paperwork under the terms of the state grant and return with project schedule and contract documents as required by city purchasing rules.